Ruellia plant named &#39;R10-105-Q54&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘R10-105-Q54’ is a new  Ruellia  plant distinguished by having excellent landscape performance, red-violet flowers, no fruiting from selfing, low fruiting (and abortion of fruits prior to maturity) when pollinated with fertile  Ruellia  pollen, and no viable seed production, as disclosed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The U.S. government has certain rights in this invention, pursuant to TSTAR Grant No. 00093296 awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Ruellia simplex

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘R10-105-Q54’

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Ruellia, botanically known as Ruellia simplex, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘R10-105-Q54’.

‘R10-105-Q54’ is an individual obtained from open-pollination of ‘R10-105’ grown at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra, Fla. (North Central Florida, 29.4° N, 82.2° W, AHS heat zone 8b) in September 2012. ‘R10-105’ is a pink tetraploid hybrid obtained at the University of Florida in Gainesville, which resulted from a cross between ‘RU25-1’×‘Chi Chi’ made in September 2010. ‘RU25-1’ is a pink tetraploid plant, obtained as a vegetative propagule of ‘RU3-25’. ‘RU3-25’ is a diploid-tetraploid chimeric plant obtained by treating the apical meristem of a seedling of pink R. simplex ‘Chi Chi’ with three applications, every 12 hours, of a 50 μM oryzalin solution in December 2008.

‘R10-105-Q54’ has been reproduced asexually for 1 year through vegetative cuttings and has been shown to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

‘R10-105-Q54’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘R10-105-Q54’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in North Central and Southeastern Florida, USA:

1. Excellent performance in both full sun and partial shade environments.

2. Compact growth habit.

3. Good flowering throughout the flowering season.

4. Medium-sized red-purple flowers

5. No fruit production from selfing.

6. Low fruit production when grown in close proximity of other Ruellia plants that are fertile, or when hand-pollinated with fertile Ruellia pollen. Fruits abort before maturity (within 14 days after pollination). Seeds are abnormal and non-viable (no germination).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The new Ruellia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1.—Shows 21-week-old plants of ‘R10-105-Q54’ on Sep. 6, 2013. Plants were grown in ground beds with drip irrigation at PSREU in Citra, Fla.

FIG. 2.—Shows a close-up of a flower of ‘R10-105-Q54’ on Oct. 17, 2013. Flowers shown were on a 27-week-old plant grown in a poly house in Gainesville, Fla.

FIG. 3.—Shows 27-week-old plants of ‘Chi Chi’ (left) and ‘R10-105-Q54’ (right) on Oct. 18, 2013. Plants were grown in 11.4-L pots in a poly house in Gainesville, Fla.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘R10-105-Q54’. The detailed description was taken on October 17, 2013, which was 27 weeks after vegetative propagation from greenhouse-grown stock plants. Measurements are the means from three individual clones propagated on Apr. 10, 2013 and potted in 11.4-L pots on May 30, 2013. Fafard 2P mix (Concord Fafard Inc., Agawam, Mass.; 60% Canadian peat moss, 40% perlite) was used with fertigation at 150 ppm nitrogen. Pots were placed on mesh benches in a 25% shade poly house at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. (North Central Florida, 29.7° N 82.3° W, AHS heat zone 8b).

Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition.

Phenotypic Description of Ruellia simplex (Variety ‘R10-105-Q54’)

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Acanthaceae.         -   Botanical.—Ruellia simplex hybrid.         -   Common name.—Ruellia, Mexican Petunia.         -   Variety name.—‘R10-105-Q54’.         -   Plant description.—Form: Erect Habit: Clumping Height (from             top of soil): 80 cm Width (horizontal plant diameter): 64             cm. -   Propagation: Type cuttings: Vegetative meristems having at least 2     nodes Time to initiate roots: 4 to 6 days Time to produce a rooted     cutting: 7 to 10 days Root habit: Adventitious (fibrous) Root     description: Callus forms in 3 to 4 days; roots initiate in 5 to 8     days and become a highly branched cutting in 14 to 21 days -   Branches: Quantity per plant: 9 to 11 branches per plant (with no     pinching) Branch color: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green) Texture: Smooth     Pubescence: Slightly tomentose, especially at nodes Stem     description: Round to square-shaped stem, 2 cm in diameter at the     soil line Branch diameter: 1 to 2 cm at the base, 0.4 at the end of     a 68-cm long branch Branch length: 55 to 70 cm for first secondary     branch Internode length: 6 cm Anthocyanin: RHS 183B (Grey/Purple) -   Leaves: Quantity of leaves per branch: 30 (maximum, bottom leaves     fall as they age) Arrangement: Decussate (opposite pairs) Fragrance:     N/A Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic Length: 15 to 17 cm (for older     leaf) Width: 1.5 to 3 cm Apex: Narrowly Acute Base: Attenuate     Margin: Entire Leaf texture (both surfaces): Slightly coriaceous     Pubescence color (both surfaces): N/A     -   -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A (Yellow-Green) Lower             surface: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, mature and immature leaf.—Upper surface: RHS 147A             (Yellow-Green) (may vary depending on nutrient levels) Lower             surface: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Petiole length.—0 to 1.5 cm (absent in younger leaves).         -   Petiole diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 147A (Yellow-Green). -   Flowers and seeds:     -   -   Flower (if present).—Arrangement: Axillary in solitary or             several-flowered cyme Aspect: Actinomorphic corolla with 5             rounded petals; funnel form Flowering habit (length of             flowering season): May to October (N. FL) Number of             inflorescences per plant: 14 to 26 cymes with 25 to 50             flowers total, plus buds Fragrance: Very mild and slightly             sweet Lastingness of individual bloom: 1 day Rate of             opening: Daily Flower Bud: Shape: Elliptic Length: 2.5 cm             Diameter: 0.8 cm Color: RHS 145B (Yellow-Green) Texture:             Glandular with trichomes Corolla: Arrangement: Actinomorphic             salverform (funnel form) Length: 3 to 4 cm Diameter: 4.5 to             5.2 cm Color: Upper surface: RHS 66D (Red-Violet) Lower             surface: RHS 65B (Red-Violet) Corolla tube: RHS 74A (Darker             Red-Violet) Banner: Not present Margin: Texture (both             surfaces): Undulated Color: Upper surface: RHS 66D             (Red-Violet) Lower surface: RHS 65B (Red-Violet) Keel: Not             present Calyx: Number of sepals per flower: 5 Length: 1.5 cm             Diameter: 0.4 cm Apex: Narrowly Acute Base: Fused Texture             (both surfaces): Smooth to glandular Pubescence (present or             absent): Present (Glandular trichomes) Sepal color: Upper             surface: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green) Lower surface: RHS 146B             (Yellow-Green) Pedicels: Angle: 15-25° Length: 1.5 to 8 cm             Diameter: 0.2 cm Texture: Smooth to glandular Color: RHS             146B (Yellow-Green) Reproductive organs: Stamens: Present             Number: 4 anthers with stamens fused in pairs (1 long, 1             short) at base to corolla Filament: 4 (fused) Color: RHS             155C (White) Length: 2 at 0.8 cm, and 2 at 0.5 cm Diameter:             0.1 cm Anther color: N/A Pollen amount: Moderate, 10%             stainable Pollen color: RHS 155C (White) Pistils:             Number/flower: 1 Pistil length: 2.2 cm Stigma: Present             Color: RHS 155C (White) Shape: Bilabial and slightly             recurved Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Style: Color: RHS             155C (White) Length: 1.8 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Ovary:             Hypogenous Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green). -   Fruit/seed set: Very few observed, abort prior to maturity Shape:     Cylindrical capsule. Size: 1.5 to 2 cm. Color: RHS 146B     (Yellow-Green). Texture: Smooth. -   Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is     typical of the species.

Comparison with Parental Lines and Known Variety

Compared to the female parent ‘R10-105’, ‘R10-105-Q54’ has less fruit formation when grown in close proximity to other fertile Ruellia.

Twenty-one-week old ‘R10-105-Q54’ plants were compared to ‘Chi Chi’ in Citra (North Central) and Fort Pierce (South Eastern), Fla. ‘R10-105-Q54’ had an average height of 50 cm and width of 50 cm, while ‘Chi Chi’ had an average height of 62 cm width of 60 cm. Average internode lengths for ‘R10-105-Q54’ and ‘Chi Chi’ were 6 cm and 9.5 cm, respectively.

Average landscape performance rating at Citra, Fort Pierce and Gainesville, Fla. was 4.4 for ‘R10-105-Q54’ and 3.8 for ‘Chi Chi’. Landscape performance was rated with a scale from 1-5, with 1 indicating very poor quality, not acceptable, severe leaf necrosis or chlorosis, poor form; 2 indicating poor quality, not acceptable, large areas of necrosis or chlorosis, poor form; 3 indicating acceptable quality, somewhat desirable form and color; 4 indicating very good quality, very acceptable and desirable color and form; and 5 indicating excellent quality, perfect condition, premium color and form.

Average flowering rating at Citra, Fort Pierce and Gainesville, Fla. was 3.1 for ‘R10-105-Q54’ and 4 for ‘Chi Chi’. Flowering was rated on a 1-5 scale, with 1 indicating no flowers or buds; 2 indicating buds but no open flowers; 3 indicating 1-10 open flowers; 4 indicating 11-20 open flowers; and 5 indicating more than 20 open flowers. Corolla diameter was 4.5 to 5.2 cm for ‘R10-105-Q54’ to 5.4 for ‘Chi Chi’. Colors of the upper surface of the corolla and the corolla tube were RHS 66D and RHS 74A for ‘R10-105-Q54’ and RHS 68D and RHS 64C for ‘Chi Chi’.

Average fruiting rating at Citra, Fort Pierce and Gainesville, Fla. was 4.8 for ‘R10-105-Q54’ and 3 for ‘Chi Chi’. Fruiting was rated on a 1-5 scale, with 1 indicating more than 50 fruits; 2 indicating 20-50 fruits; 3 indicating 10-19 fruits; 4 indicating 1-9 fruits; and 5 indicating no fruits. Fruits produced by ‘Chi Chi’ during 60 days in the poly house in Gainesville, Fla. were counted (120), the average number of seeds per fruit was determined (18), and the seed germination rate was calculated (82%). It was estimated that ‘Chi Chi’ could produce 1,766 seedlings, while ‘R10-105-Q54’ did not produce any fruits or seeds from selfing. When ‘R10-105-Q54’was hand-pollinated with pollen from wild, purple-flowered R. simplex, 35% of the crosses resulted in fruit formation, and when pollinated with pink-flowered cultivar ‘Chi Chi’, 50% of the crosses resulted in fruit formation. However, all fruits aborted before maturation (within 14 days after pollination), and the seeds were not viable. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ruellia plant as shown and described herein. 